Walkers on Hadley Green shocked to see carcases of fish thought to have died through lack of oxygen in Brewery Pond

At least a dozen large fish had to be removed from Brewery Pond on Hadley Green after they were found floating on the surface having died most probably due to the summer drought and a prolonged lack of rainfall.

Brewery Pond’s water level is at an unprecedented low level and the fish – thought to be carp – are thought to have lacked sufficient oxygen.

Barnet Council has asked the Environment Agency, which is responsible for waterways and pollution, to remove the carcases and examine what might have caused their death.

Brewery Pond, which is filled by a spring, has not dried out entirely unlike the other ponds on Hadley Green which are filled by surface water.

Once the dead fish were seen floating on the surface, they were removed by nearby residents and anglers to await disposal.

David Chapman of Hadley Residents Association said Barnet Council’s greenspaces department had called in the Environment Agency to remove the dead fish and to look into what had happened.

“We knew there were some very large fish in the Brewery Pond and in all probability the cause is a lack of oxygen in the water.

“However, we would like the water to be checked out to see whether there is any underlying pollution or another cause.”

Mr Chapman said the Residents Association will see if it could help improve the quality of the water by the installation of a machine to aerate the water.

A large quantity of water was taken from the Brewery Pond by the London Fire Brigade in May last year when fighting a large fire nearby in Hollybush House, a large Georgian property which faces on to the green.

“Unfortunately, the level of water in the pond didn’t recover fully last winter and it has now fallen to an unprecedented level due to the summer drought and months without any significant rain.”

Another casualty of the drought is Joslin’s Pond – a favourite Hadley Green duck pond – which dried out completely during the summer and like other ponds on the green and Hadley Common is desperately in need of being replenished.

Water levels in wildlife ponds at Barnet Environment Centre in Byng Road are lower than normal but are being topped up thanks to the installation of giant storage tank for water draining from the centre’s roof.

“Our ponds have dried up considerably, but we can pump in extra fresh water from our giant water butt, and it really has proved to be a wonderful resource,” said Dick Elms, vice chair of the Friends of Barnet Environment Centre.